Cancer costs projected to reach at least $158 billion in 2020

New NIH study projects survivorship and costs of cancer care based on changes in the US population and cancer trends

Based on growth and aging of the U.S. population, medical expenditures for cancer in the year 2020 are projected to reach at least $158 billion (in 2010 dollars) — an increase of 27 percent over 2010, according to a National Institutes of Health analysis. If newly developed tools for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up continue to be more expensive, medical expenditures for cancer could reach as high as $207 billion, said the researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the NIH. The analysis appears online, Jan. 12, 2011, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The projections were based on the most recent data available on cancer incidence, survival, and costs of care. In 2010, medical costs associated with cancer were projected to reach $127.6 billion, with the highest costs associated with breast cancer ($16.5 billion), followed by colorectal cancer ($14 billion), lymphoma ($12 billion), lung cancer ($12 billion) and prostate cancer ($12 billion). If cancer incidence and survival rates and costs remain stable and the U.S. population ages at the rate predicted by the U.S. Census Bureau, direct cancer care expenditures would reach $158 billion in 2020, the report said. http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2011/nci-12.htm

Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentives: What Do You Know and Do You Know Enough?

As part of the CMS, Office of External Affairs contract with Medscape, the Participant Self Assessment, Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentives: What Do You Know and Do You Know Enough?, is officially live at: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/734299. The main site, www.medscape.org will also allow the user to navigate to the “EHR Incentives” assessment. Participation may require the user to log in to Medscape, however registration is free and does not require any commitment.